The Southern Peninsula incl. Kalkbay

Voted the coolest coastal village vy Forbes and the UK’s daily telegraph.

Book a hotel or self-catering accommodation as a base for the Southern Peninsula. This is one of the most beautiful parts of Cape Town according to me and well the individuals who voted it as such.

Kalkbay is just one of the villages along this coastline. It has been voted the coolest neighbourhood in the world according to Forbes list of travel destinations in 2018.

Next door is Muizenberg. Having resided in Muizenberg for a part of my adulthood, which is two villages away from Kalkbay and just under five kilometres away, I usually jog this route, and love going through this quaint and pretty town, which is sheltered from the wind.

Great beach walks, penguins, quaint villages with a ton of shopping await you

St. James walk from Muizenberg, is a great walk in the morning after breakfast or before to work up an appetite. Take a dip in St. James tidal pool before returning back along the path to Muizenberg, or dipping through the short tunnel to the road on the other side and walking along to Kalkbay. If you do this, be sure to buy the best ice-cream in the Southern peninsula can be purchased at the Ice café. There are always long lines for this ice-cream. It’s made on site and in a multitude of local flavors.

Take the train, or drive to Simonstown. Visit Boulders beach. View the penguins playing in the sea. There is a visitors centre where one can pay to learn about the penguins. But if you just want to see penguins, go around the side of the restaurant and head towards the beach. Remember penguins are wild animals. Do not attempt to pet them. They can bite if they feel threatened.

Accommodation options

If you wish to book self catering apartment accommodation in Muizenberg, then Whale watchers accommodation is a great option, within the Empire apartment block, which is right across from the Muizenberg beach, with surf shops and a multitude of restaurants on the ground floor of the apartments.

If you are looking for the back-packers scene, there are a number of backpackers in the area. Stoked back-packers is a good place to start your search. Muizenberg has amazing waves for beginner surfers, so book a surf lesson. You will not regret it.

Tips

Artisan bread can be purchased daily at a bakery along the main road. The Checkers grocery store along the main road is easily walkable from most parts of Muizenberg. Your accommodation should have a parking spot, ask where. Because parking is difficult in this village.

On Friday evenings there is a food market at the Blue Bird garage. Artisan food, produced as you wait. A general seating area. Great locally brewed beer and wine. Reasonable prices. What’s not to love?